The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-04-30
SuiI- D huV.
THE COINER.

THE COINER.
BY GERALD GRIFFIN.
Author of IS The Collegians." etc.
CHAPTER XV.-(Continued.)
Mr.. Cuthbert here broke in upon the
dialogue to inquire after the wounded
Kumba and Miss Byrne, who were both
attended in separate apartments-and
neither of whom had yet fully recovered
from the insensibility into which their
sufferings had cast them. During the
few weeks that were suffered to pass
away, before the former was sufficient
~ restored to bear removal to his own
house, no communication more direct
than an inquiry at second hand, passed
between the friends-and Kumba left
the home of his mistress, without even
the ceremony of formal parting.
This heroic forbearance was pro-
longed for many years, during which,
the character of the young middle
man" appeared to have under
gone a perfect change-a change
which communicated itself to his cir
cumstances, and to the property which
he held. The dwelling-house gradually
put on more civilized appearance, the
stones which covered the grazing land
were removed and appropriated to the
more advantageous use of fences and
boundaries. The cattle began to look
more sleek and comely, better pleased
with themselves and with the world
around them. The barn and granerY
groaDed beneath their burdens, the
stroke of the fail was heard necessarily
throughout the autumn, and the graf
ing of cast wheels over the well-grav-
elled avenue scarce ever left the ear at
rest throughout the day. Notwithstanding
all the hints that were dropped in his
hearing, of the satisfaction which these
improvements had given in a certain
quarter, Kumba was careful to abstain
from anything that could indicate pre-
mature anxiety to revive the memory of
departed hours, and he even chose, on
Sundays, to attend chapel which was
near three miles from his residence,
rather than hazard renewal Of the
distractions, which his presence at the
parish place of worship had in old
times, so frequently occasioned to an
other as well as to himself.
Lilly, whose pure and gentle heart
would have been content to find it's sole
worldly enjoyment in hearing of the
happiness of one whom she loved with
so disinterested an affection, was
more pleased than grieved at this priva-
ton, and felt herself repaid for all the
self-denlal by the accounts which daily
reached her (under the form of sly jokes
and hints from witty yisitors) of Kum-
ba's welfare-and by an occasional ex-
clamation from James, thrown out in
an accidental way, of what fine man
Master Robert was riden into a fair in
a mornen!''
Alas for human nature! alas, for friend
ship! alas for all that is sincere, and hon
est.and benevolent it would be fear,
mournful and humiliating task for
thephilanthropist, to analyze the motives
even of the most seeming amiable &C.
tions that pass around him, and discov-
er how few are affectionate, how few
generous, how few are compassionate,
how few are humble, even of those who
act the parts, and imagine themselves
to be what they appear. Our best
friends, says modern aphorist, have a
jealousy even in their friendship. and if
they hear us praised, will ascribe the
commentator if they can, to some in:
terestea motive. We appeal to the
reader, whether he has not frequently
found through life, that the most dis
agreeable intelligence has often reached
him through the medium of his kindest
and most sympathizing acquaintance
and whether in the fulness of an ex-
tatic heart, when he sought that same
kind friend, for the purpose of COM
municating to him piece Of sudden
good fortune which he had experienced
he has not often been met by some
chilling doubt, some friendly cautious
hint, which has humbled his vain heart
and ..=.
Though that his Joy were Joy,
Yet threw such changes of vexation on it,
As it might lose some color"
and showed him at the same time, that
the friends whose sorrow went before
his own in the hours of dependency
and disappointment, yet fingered far
behind him in the sympathy of gratula-
ton. We shall not stop to calculate
the number Of those whose generosity
might safely undergo a test so severe,
and perhaps, so uncharitable.
Neither shall we examine whether
the worthy Mrs. Hassett was one of
the many whose benevolence passes
current and unsupported even by them
selves; or whether she were Influenced
by any other impulse than than that
which she herself believed to be the